{{$store.state.data.search.serverData.config.placeholder}}

{{ vm.heading }}

{{ vm.closeTabLabel }}

Notice of updates
!

Since the last time you logged in our privacy statement has been updated. We want to ensure that you are kept up to date with any changes and as such would ask that you take a moment to review the changes. You will not continue to receive KPMG subscriptions until you accept the changes.

Hi
!

Our privacy policy has been updated since the last time you logged in

We want to make sure you're kept up to date. Please take a moment to review these changes. You will not receive KPMG subscription messages until you agree to the new policy.

M&A Predictor 2018: Technology, Media and Telecommunications

M&A Predictor 2018: Technology, Media & Telecomms

Related content

We expect the Technology and Telecoms sector to continue its strong M&A performance in 2018, following another year of significant activity that was fuelled by a flurry of 2017 deal-making in the US.

According to the M&A Predictor, corporate appetite for M&A deals - as measured by forward P/E ratios - is expected to rise by 10 percent in the Technology sector versus 2017, while remaining flat in the Telecoms sector. The capacity of corporates to fund M&A growth - as measured by net debt/EBITDA - is expected to increase by 145 percent in Technology and by 7 percent in Telecoms.1

Activity during Q1 2018 for Technology, Media and Telecoms (TMT) supports our outlook. The year got off to a strong start in Q1 with the total value of deals doubled to US$247 billion versus Q1 2017. Volume of deals in Q1 2018 was down 8 percent at 2,820 versus Q1 2017 and average deal size was US$87 million. “There's a lot of money sitting on the sidelines, a trend that has prevailed for the last few years,” says Cyrus Lam, Global Technology Co-Lead.

Source: Dealogic, KPMG analysis

“Every year, private equity funds report increases in reserves of `dry powder' despite spending record amounts in the previous year on acquisitions. They seem to have an unending supply of capital. The low-interest-rate environment and abundant availability of debt
is
also letting private equity play a significant role in acquiring technology companies.”

Over the past five years, private equity firms have become increasingly important buyers of Technology companies, both from a global and US perspective.

“Despite the continuing abundance of `dry powder,' whether private equity funds continue to have this impact in 2018 will partly be determined by what happens to interest rates - which are expected to rise in 2018 - and how new tax legislation will impact a private equity fund's deal economics,” says Cyrus.

Cross-sector deals are expected to continue at a healthy pace as technology stalwarts attempt to disrupt traditional business models, while incumbent companies look to defend their business models and retain competitive advantages by acquiring technology.

“Anything that allows existing firms to differentiate their products or services from new competitors is the goal,” says JP Ditty, Global Technology Co-Lead and Managing Director

Adding that on cross-border deals, we can expect much ongoing interest being directed at US firms, primarily by global players in China, Japan and India. All of these countries appeared on KPMG's list of Top Countries for Deals in 2017 for TMT in our full report.

Reviewing 2017

The sector in 2017 generally met expectations in 2017, with deal values and volume showing gains for the TMT sector.

The total value of deals in 2017 reached US$745 billion, compared to US$800 billion in 2016, while the number of 2017 deals increased to 12,297 from 10,787. Average deal size was lower at US$60.5 million versus US$74 million for 2017.

“Deal volumes and values were strong in 2017, with the US setting the pace amid a relatively flat global picture. We anticipate that trend continuing in 2018, with the US/North America setting the pace on the number and value of deals,” Cyrus notes. “Overall technology deal activity in the first three quarters of 2017 lacked the blockbuster deals seen in 2016 but this changed in the fourth quarter with the announcement of large public transactions.”

“Although PE investors are complaining about how expensive things are on the buy side,” JP adds, “they love the prices that their companies are garnering on the sell side and are generally selling anything not nailed to the floor. With that said - you always need a willing buyer and seller to complete a transaction, on both pricing and terms, so given the good volume, there is still equilibrium” and this is expected to continue into 2018.

Footnote:

1The M&A Predictor, which leverages Capital IQ data, does not have a separate category for media. Media companies are considered Consumer Discretionary for Capital IQ.